By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered 11,839 new voters in Imo State under the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise while temporarily suspending the exercise in Egbema, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, due to security concerns.
INEC’s Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity in Imo State, Mrs. Emmanuella Ben-Opara, disclosed this in Owerri on Thursday.
She explained that the new registrants are mainly citizens who recently attained the voting age of 18 and had not previously registered.
According to her, voter registration is ongoing across the state except in Egbema, where reported killings prompted the commission to temporarily suspend the exercise.
“As of Friday, June 13, 2026, we have registered 11,839 new registrants in Imo State,” she said.
“Currently, registration is ongoing throughout the state except in Egbema, where it was temporarily suspended because of reported killings. However, the police have assured us that normalcy has returned, so we are going back there.”
Ben-Opara noted that INEC officials are operating in all parts of the state, including areas previously affected by insecurity, and encouraged eligible residents who are yet to register to take advantage of the exercise.
She also advised voters who have relocated from their original registration locations to apply for polling unit transfers, stressing that only holders of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would be eligible to vote in elections.
“People can only vote with their Permanent Voter Cards. Nobody with a Temporary Voter Card will be allowed to vote,” she added.
Also speaking, INEC Public Affairs Officer in the state, Dr. Maryann Godslight, said the commission had made adequate arrangements to ensure that persons with disabilities can register and participate fully in future elections.
Godslight described the turnout for the current registration exercise as significantly higher than in previous phases, particularly among young people.
“The turnout has been massive, much higher than in the previous phases. More than 100 people now turn up daily, especially youths,” she said.
She attributed the increased participation to growing awareness among residents and urged eligible citizens to register before the exercise concludes.
The commission further assured residents that security personnel have been deployed to registration centres across the state to guarantee the safety of registrants and electoral officials.
INEC said it is working closely with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to sustain a peaceful environment for the exercise.
